Auto commissioning of light fixture using optical bursts

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems herein provide for determining lighting contributions of light fixtures to an environment. In one embodiment, a system includes a light sensor and a controller. The light sensor generates light level data based on measured light levels. The controller determines a nominal light level based on the light level data, and identifies an optical burst pattern in the light level data generated by a light fixture. The controller then determines a lighting contribution of the light fixture based on the optical burst pattern and the nominal light level.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims the benefitof, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/310,911, entitled “Determinationof Lighting Contributions for Light Fixtures Using Optical Bursts,”filed Dec. 5, 2011, the entire disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference for all purposes.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of, and claims thebenefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/913,157, entitled“Multiple Light Sensor Multiple Light Fixture Control,” filed Jun. 7,2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by referencefor all purposes.

FIELD

The invention relates to the field of lighting systems and inparticular, to identifying how different light sources contribute tolighting in an environment.

BACKGROUND

Modern indoor lighting systems serve a number of purposes, such asproviding a comfortable lighting environment for the occupants of aroom, and doing so efficiently. The typical indoor lighting environmentmay include one or more windows that contribute a varying amount ofnatural light to the environment of the room over time, and a number oflight fixtures that provide sources of artificial light. Thus, a personat a workspace may experience periods of above average lighting in theenvironment and periods of below average lighting in the environment. Inaddition, different light fixtures placed across the room may providedifferent contributions to the lighting at the person's workspace. Forexample, light fixtures near the workspace may provide a largercontribution of lighting at the workspace than light fixtures fartheraway. Thus, it can be problematic to determine how different lightsources (both artificial and natural) contribute to the lighting in theenvironment.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein advantageously utilize burst patternsencoded in the optical output of light fixtures to determine a lightingcontribution of the fixtures in an environment. Using this information,various activities may be performed to more efficiently utilize thelighting available. For example, knowing the lighting contribution ofvarious lighting fixtures may allow for a reduction of energy usage inproviding an adequate amount of lighting in the environment.

One embodiment is a system comprising a light sensor and a controller.The light sensor generates light level data based on measured lightlevels. The controller determines a nominal light level based on thelight level data, identifies an optical burst pattern in the light leveldata generated by a light fixture, and determines a lightingcontribution of the light fixture based on the optical burst pattern andthe nominal light level.

In another embodiment, the controller determines the lightingcontribution of the light fixture by calculating a difference between anamplitude of the optical burst pattern and the nominal light level. Inthis embodiment, the controller may perform an averaging process or someother type of low frequency filtering of the light level data tocalculate the nominal light level.

In another embodiment, the controller determines a difference betweenthe nominal light level and a target light level. The controllercalculates a change in the optical output of the light fixture based onthe lighting contribution of the light fixture and the difference. Thecontroller then generates an instruction to adjust the optical output ofthe light fixture to reach the target level.

Another embodiment is a system comprising a light source and acontroller. The light source generates an optical output. The controllermodulates the optical output of the light source to generate an opticalbust pattern that is substantially imperceptible. The controllerreceives information for a lighting contribution of the light source ata light sensor based on the optical burst pattern and a nominal lightlevel at the light sensor, and adjusts the optical output of the lightsource based on the lighting contribution.

In another embodiment, the controller receives information about thenominal light level and information about a target light level, anddetermines a difference between the nominal light level and the targetlight level. The controller then calculates a change in the opticaloutput of the light source based on the lighting contribution, andadjusts the optical output of the light source to reach the targetlevel.

Other exemplary embodiments may be described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentdisclosure are better understood when the following Detailed Descriptionis read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a lighting system and one or more lightfixtures in an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining lightingcontributions of one or more light fixtures in an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an example of an optical burst pattern generated by one ormore light fixtures in an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a light fixture in an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method of coordinating lightingfor an environment in an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a lighting controller in an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a lighting monitor in an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of light fixtures in communication with alight sensor according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process for auto commissioning fixtures witha light sensor according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 10 shows an illustrative computational system for performingfunctionality to facilitate implementation of embodiments describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures and the following description illustrate specific exemplaryembodiments of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that thoseskilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that,although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principlesof the invention and are included within the scope of the invention.Furthermore, any examples described herein are intended to aid inunderstanding the principles of the invention, and are to be construedas being without limitation to such specifically recited examples andconditions. As a result, the invention is not limited to the specificembodiments or examples described below, but by the claims and theirequivalents.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a lighting system 100 and one or more lightfixtures 106-108 in an exemplary embodiment. Light fixtures 106-108generate visible light (illustrated as dashed lines in FIG. 1) for anenvironment 110, and may generate light by various technological means,such as Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), incandescent bulbs, fluorescentbased systems, etc. In this embodiment, one or more light fixtures106-108 generate optical burst patterns in their optical output. Theoptical burst patterns are imperceptible to the human eye, but aredetectable by system 100. System 100 then determines a lightingcontribution to environment 110 from one or more light fixtures 106-108based on the detected optical bursts. Based on the lightingcontributions from light fixtures 106-108, system 100 may performvarious activities to control lighting within environment 110, such asmodifying the optical output of one or more of light fixtures 106-108.

In this embodiment, system 100 includes a controller 102 and a lightsensor 104. Generally, controller 102 includes any component, system, ordevice that is operable to determine the lighting contributions from oneor more light fixtures 106-108 in environment 110. Light sensor 104includes any component, system, or device that is operable to measurevisible light levels. The light levels measured by light sensor 104 maybe generated by artificial (e.g., light fixtures 106-108) or natural(i.e., sunlight) light sources. Light sensor 104 may includephoto-resistive based sensors, Charged Coupled Devices (CCDs),photodiodes, photovoltaic cells, or other types of optical detectors asa matter of design choice. When measuring light levels, light sensor 104may generate an analog output (e.g., voltage or current) representativeof the measurement, a digital output representative of the measurement,etc. How system 100 may operate will be discussed in more detail withregard to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method 200 for determining lightingcontributions from one or more light fixtures 106-108 in an exemplaryembodiment. The steps of method 200 will be described with respect tosystem 100 of FIG. 1, although one skilled in the art will understandthat method 200 may be performed by other systems not shown. The stepsof the flowcharts described herein are not all inclusive and may includeother steps not shown. The steps may also be performed in an alternateorder.

In step 202, light sensor 104 generates light level data based onmeasured light levels. Light sensor 104 may be placed at any positionwithin environment 110 as a matter of design choice. For example, lightsensor 104 may be placed at a person's workspace to measure light levelsat the workspace, may move along with a person within environment 110,etc.

In step 204, controller 102 determines a nominal light level based onthe light level data. Determining the nominal light level may beperformed by controller 102 in a number of different ways, such asthrough the application of digital filters (e.g., moving averagefilters, Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters, Infinite ImpulseResponse (IIR) filters, notch filters, etc.), analog circuits applied tothe light level data, etc. For example, controller 102 may read a datastream of digital light level values from light sensor 104 over time,and apply a notch filter to the data stream when determining the nominallight level in order to remove narrow band noise from the light leveldata.

In step, 206, controller 102 identifies an optical burst pattern in thelight level data generated by one or more light fixtures 106-108. Theoptical burst pattern in the optical output of one or more lightfixtures 106-108 may be a series of full off or partial off, a series offull on or partial on states, or some combination of the states.Generally, the optical burst pattern is imperceptible to an observerwithin environment 110. The optical burst pattern may be imperceptiblebecause the rate of the burst pattern is too fast for the observer tonotice and/or because the amplitude modulation of the optical output istoo small for the observer to notice. FIG. 3 is an example of an opticalburst pattern 300 generated by one or more light fixtures 106-108 in anexemplary embodiment. In this embodiment, optical burst pattern 300includes one or more amplitude modulations for an optical output oflight fixtures 106-108. Optical burst pattern 300 in FIG. 3 illustratesexamples of optical off pulses 302-304 and optical on pulses 306-307generated by light fixtures 106-108. Optical burst pattern 308 alsoillustrates a level 310 representative of the nominal light level. Offpulses 302-304 are generated when an optical output of one of lightfixtures 106-108 decreases from a previous level (e.g., a fixture istemporarily turned off or partially off). On pulses 306-307 may begenerated as the fixture output returns to its previous output level(e.g., some partial output level or a full power output level). In someembodiments, optical burst pattern 300 may encode information thatuniquely identifies a particular one of light fixtures 106-108.

Encoding information in the optical burst patterns may be performed bygenerating a sequence of on-off pulses in the optical burst thatdigitally encode the identifiers.

In step 208, controller 102 determines a lighting contribution of one ormore light fixtures 106-108 based on the optical burst pattern and thenominal light level. For example, a lighting contribution may be relatedto a change in amplitude 308 of the measured light levels during offpulses 302-304 as compared to the nominal light level (e.g., level 310of FIG. 3) determined in step 204.

By advantageously determining how different light fixtures 106-108contribute to lighting in environment 110, various activities may beperformed more efficiently. For instance, system 100 may determine thatlight fixture 106 contributes very little to the present lighting atlight sensor 104, perhaps due to light fixture 106 being far away fromlight sensor 104. Thus, it would be less efficient to operate lightfixture 106 at a high power level when attempting to increase thelighting level at light sensor 104. In contrast, another lightingfixture may be able to contribute more lighting at light sensor 104utilizing a similar and/or lower power level.

In some embodiments, controller 102 may determine the power utilized byone or more light fixtures 106-108 when generating a correspondingoptical output. Controller 102 may transmit commands to light fixtures106-108 requesting the information, and in response, receive the powerutilization information. The power utilization information sent by lightfixtures 106-108 may be transmitted optically (e.g., by modulating acorresponding optical output of a fixture to encode the information),wirelessly, etc. In this embodiment, controller 102 may calculate theefficiency of light fixtures 106-108 based on their lightingcontributions and their power utilization. When the efficiency of lightfixtures 106-108 is known, controller 102 may then calculate a change inthe optical output for one of fixtures 106-108 to reach a target lightlevel at light sensor 104. This allows system 100 to control thelighting in environment 110 more accurately.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a light fixture 400 in an exemplaryembodiment. In this embodiment, light fixture 400 includes a controller402 and a light source 404. In light fixture 400, controller 402includes any component, system, or device that is operable to modulatean optical output of light source 404 to generate optical burstpatterns. Controller 402 may then receive information about the lightingcontribution of light source 404, and adjust the optical output of lightsource 404 to control the lighting in environment 110. In someembodiments, light fixture 400 may receive information about thelighting contribution of light source 404 at a remote light sensor, suchas light sensor 406. Such information may be received by light fixture400 over a wireless interface (e.g., radio, optical, etc.) and/or awired interface. Light source 404 includes any component, system, ordevice that is operable to provide lighting to environment 110. Lightsource 404 may include artificial and natural sources of light. Oneexample of light source 404 as a natural source of light is a window. Inthis example, the window may include a variable opacity thin film thatmodulates an intensity of natural lighting provided to environment 110.How system 400 may operate will be discussed in more detail with regardto FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method 500 for coordinatinglighting for environment 110 in an exemplary embodiment. The steps ofmethod 500 will be described with respect to light fixture 400 of FIG.4, although one skilled in the art will understand that method 500 maybe performed by other systems not shown.

In step 502, controller 402 modulates an optical output of light source404 to generate an optical burst pattern that is substantiallyimperceptible to an observer. Controller 402 may perform an amplitudemodulation of the optical output of light source 404 to generate a burstpattern at a high frequency. For instance, controller 402 may modulatethe optical output of light source 404 to generate optical pulses ofless than about 400 microseconds, which may be substantiallyimperceptible to most observers. Controller 402 may modulate the opticaloutput of light source 404 in a variety of ways, such as varying acurrent to light source 404, varying opacity of a thin film applied to asurface of light source 404, etc.

In step 504, controller 402 receives information for a lightingcontribution of light source 404 at a light sensor 406 based on theoptical burst pattern and a nominal light level at light sensor 406. Forexample, a control system (not shown in FIG. 4) coupled with lightsensor 406 may analyze the burst pattern generated in step 502 andcompare the burst pattern to a nominal lighting level measured by lightsensor 406. The control system may then transmit information about thelighting contribution of light source 404 to controller 402.

In step 506, controller 402 adjusts the optical output of light source404 based on the lighting contribution information received in step 504.

In some embodiments, controller 402 may receive information about thenominal lighting level measured at light sensor 406, and a targetlighting level for environment 110. Controller 402 may then determine adifference between the nominal light level and the target light level,and calculate a change in the optical output of light source 404 basedon the lighting contribution of light source 404 at light sensor 406.Controller 402 may then adjust light source 404 to reach the targetlevel.

In other embodiments, controller 402 may receive a list of lightfixtures and their associated efficiencies. Controller 402 may thenapply various control algorithms to vary the optical output of lightsource 404 based on an efficiency of light source 404 and/or theefficiencies of other light sources.

Examples

A first example is shown in FIG. 6, which is a block diagram of alighting controller 602 in an exemplary embodiment. In addition tolighting controller 602, FIG. 6 illustrates light fixtures 606-608 assources of artificial light for environment 110, and a window 610 as asource of natural light for environment 110. In FIG. 6, lightingcontroller 602 is located proximate to a person's workspace 604.

Over time, the amount of natural light provided by window 610 toworkspace 604 changes. When light fixtures 606-608 provide a fixedamount of artificial light during the same time period, this results ina variable amount of lighting at workspace 604. This can be aninefficient use of the lighting available in environment 110. Controller602 solves this problem by dynamically adjusting the amount ofartificial light at workspace 604. In this embodiment, light fixtures606-608 generate optical burst patterns in their optical output that aredetected by controller 602. Controller 602 also detects an amount oflighting present at workspace 604. By determining an amount ofartificial light provided by light fixtures 606-608 at workspace 604,controller 602 can dynamically determine the artificial lightingcontributions and the natural lighting contributions at workspace 604.Controller 602 may determine the contributions of light fixtures 606-608by comparing an average light level measured at controller 602 with theburst patterns generated by light fixtures 606-608. Controller 602 maythen transmit commands to one or more light fixtures 606-608, ordirectly control the optical output of one or more light fixtures606-608 to compensate for changes in the lighting provided by window610. For instance, if window 610 temporarily provides more lighting toworkspace 604, then controller 602 in concert with light fixtures606-608 may reduce the optical output of one or more light fixtures606-608. This advantageously utilizes the natural lighting available inenvironment 110 more efficiently and also reduces the power utilized bylight fixtures 606-608. In the converse, if window 610 temporarilyprovides less lighting to workspace 604, then controller 602 in concertwith light fixtures 606-608 may increase the optical output of one ormore light fixtures 606-608. This advantageously provides asubstantially constant lighting at workspace 604 while still utilizingwhat natural light is available.

While in this example window 610 is discussed with regard to supplying avarying amount of natural light to environment 110 due to the typicaloutdoor lighting changes during the day, window 610 may be modified insome embodiments to include a variable opacity thin film. Similar to thethin films used to modulate opacity in liquid crystal display panels, athin film applied to window 610 may be utilized to modulate the naturallighting available to environment 110. In a manner similar to generatingburst patterns in artificial lighting, modifying window 610 with a thinfilm may also allow for generating burst patterns in the naturallighting provided by window 610 to environment 110, and for controllingthe contribution of natural lighting provided by window 610. This mayallow controller 602 to more accurately utilize the artificial andnatural lighting available to environment 110.

A second example is shown in FIG. 7, which is a block diagram of alighting monitor 702 in an exemplary embodiment. In the second example,lighting monitor 702 is mounted to a truck 704. Truck 704 is travellingin the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7. More particularly,truck 704 travels past a number of street lights 706-708 to allowlighting monitor 702 to determine the lighting contributions of streetlights 706-708.

One problem encountered by municipalities is the maintenance of streetlighting. Typically, the optical output of a street light decreases overtime as the bulbs age. As some low lighting threshold is reached for aparticular street light, the bulb is replaced. In current practice, amunicipal worker travels to each street light and uses a light meter todetermine a light output for the light. This is time consuming and proneto errors. First, the worker may accidentally measure the optical outputof the wrong light. This may result in unusual changes in the opticaloutput data for a particular light over time. Second, the worker mayaccidentally measure the optical output of a particular street light atdifferent distances over time. This may result in the measurementchanging over time due to changes in the distance, which may beinterpreted that it is time for a bulb replacement. Controller 702 inconcert with street lights 706-708 solves these problems by measuringoptical burst patterns generated by street lights 706-708 to determinethe contributions of street lights 706-708 as truck 704 travels. Morespecifically, when street lights 706-708 generate optical burst patternsthat include unique identifiers, then controller 702 may automaticallylog lighting contributions for each of street lights 706-708 using theidentifiers by merely driving truck 704 around the municipality. Thisreduces the opportunity for measuring the wrong light when measuringlighting contributions for street lights 706-708. Further, if truck 704is equipped with location based services, such as a Global PositioningSystem (GPS) receiver, then controller 702 in concert with the GPSreceiver may not only capture and log lighting contributions for streetlights 706-708, but also log location based information during theanalysis of the lighting contributions for street lights 706-708. Thelocation based information may then be used to normalize the lightingcontributions for street lights 706-708 based on a distance betweentruck 704 and each of street lights 706-708. This reduces theopportunity for distance based measurement errors that mimic changes inthe optical output of street lights 706-708 over time.

Embodiments of the invention, as shown in the block diagram in FIG. 8,include auto commissioning a plurality of fixtures 805 in communicationwith light sensor 820 through wireless communication channel 830. Asshown, fixtures 805 and light sensor 820 are located remotely relativeto one another. Moreover, fixtures 805 do not include a light sensor,photo sensor, or photodiode. Fixtures 805 can include transceiver 806,memory 807, fixture controller 808, antenna 810 and/or light source 809.Fixture controller 808 can be communicatively coupled with transceiver806, memory 807, and/or light source 809. Light sensor 820 can includetransceiver 824, memory 825, light sensor controller 823, antenna 826,photosensor 821 and/or photosensor circuitry 822. Light sensorcontroller 823 can be communicatively coupled with memory 825,transceiver 824, and/or photosensor circuitry 822 (and/or photosensor821).

Fixture controller 808 can be programed, for example, with a programstored in memory 807, to modulate the light emitted from light source809 to encode a burst pattern that includes a fixture identifier and/orthat is humanly imperceptible. In some embodiments, the light ismodulated in response to receiving instructions from light sensor 820 todo so through transceiver 806 and antenna 810. In some embodiments, thelight fixture identifier can be an identifier assigned by light sensor820. For instance, in order to lower the amount of data encoded, thelight sensor can assign fixture 805 a temporary fixture identifiercomprising two, three, four, five or six bits. In some embodiments, thelight fixture identifier can be uniquely set for each fixture and savedin memory.

The burst pattern can include periods of time when fixture 805 emitslight at a first luminance level and periods of time when fixture 805emits light at a second luminance level that is less than the firstluminance level. The burst pattern can include periods of time whenfixture 805 emits light at the first luminance level and periods of timewhen fixture 805 does not emit any light. In some embodiments, the totalamount of time light source 809 illuminates light at a second luminancelevel over a period of 500 microseconds is less than 300, 280, 260, 240,220, 200, 180, 160, 140, 120, 100, 80, 60, 40, or 20 microseconds giveor take 5 microseconds.

In some embodiments, during transmission of a burst pattern the totalamount of time light source 809 illuminates light at a second luminancelevel over a period of about 2600 microseconds (give or take 100microseconds) is less than 400, 380, 360, 340, 320, 300, 280, 260, 240,220, 200, 180, 160, 140, 120, 100, 80, 60, 40, or 20 microseconds giveor take 5 microseconds.

In some embodiments, during transmission of a burst pattern thepercentage of the amount of time light source 809 illuminates light atthe second luminance level compared with the amount of time light source809 illuminates light at the first luminance level is less than 70%,65%, 60%, 55%, 50%, 45%, 40%, 35%, 30%, 25%, 20%, 19%, 18%, 17%, 16%,15%, 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2.5%, 2%,1.5%, 1%, or 0.5%.

In some embodiments, during transmission of a burst pattern thepercentage of the time integral of the amount of time light source 809illuminates light at the first luminance level versus the secondluminance level is less than 20%, 19%, 18%, 17%, 16%, 15%, 14%, 13%,12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2.5%, 2%, 1.5%, 1%, or 0.5%.

In some embodiments, during transmission of a burst pattern the timeintegral of the periods of time when light source 809 (e.g., lightemitting diode) emits light at a second luminance level (or the firstluminance level) over a period of 500 microseconds is less than apredetermined value.

In some embodiments, during transmission of a burst pattern the timeintegral of the function of the luminance level over time of lightsource 809 (e.g., light emitting diode) over a period of time is lessthan 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, or 5% of the greatestluminance level during the period of time times the period of time.

In some embodiments, the burst pattern is modulated using amplitudemodulation, frequency modulation, phase-shift keying, frequency-shiftkeying, amplitude-shift keying, and/or quadrature amplitude modulation,on-off keying, continuous phase modulation, orthogonalfrequency-division modulation, wavelet modulation, trellis modulation,spread spectrum modulation, pulse width modulation, pulse positionencoding, etc.

In some embodiments, fixture 805 can include a semiconductor switchingdevice coupled with the light source 809 and/or fixture controller 808.The burst pattern can be encoded by shorting or opening thesemiconductor switching device to interrupt current to the light sourceand thus changes the illuminance from a first luminance level to asecond luminance level. The semiconductor switching device can include afield-effect transistor (FET), for example, a MOSFET, JFET, etc.

Fixture 805 can also receive an adjustment value from light sensor 820via transceiver 806 and antenna 810. In response, fixture controller 808can modify the illuminance of light source 809 (e.g., light emittingdiode) based on the adjustment value. That is, controller can increaseor decrease the illuminance of light source 809 in response to receivingthe adjustment value.

Light sensor controller 823 can be programmed, for example, with aprogram stored in memory 825, to receive the burst pattern from fixtures805 through photosensor 821 and/or photosensor circuitry 822. Lightsensor controller 823 may also associate the light fixture identifierwith the light fixture. This can occur, for example, by associating theillumination light levels, light fixture identifier, temporary lightfixture identifier, burst pattern, etc. in the database Light sensorcontroller can also send the adjustment value along with a fixtureidentifier to fixture 805 using transceiver 824. The adjustment valuecan be received through a user interface, a dial, switch, etc. In someembodiments, adjustment value and/or fixture identifiers can bebroadcast to a plurality of fixtures using a table or other messagingformat either singularly or as a package.

Light sensor controller 823 can receive a plurality of burst patternsfrom a plurality of fixtures 805. For instance, light sensor controller823 can receive a first burst pattern from a first light source and asecond burst pattern from a second light source through photosensor 821.The first burst pattern can include a first identifier associated withthe first light source and the second burst pattern can include a secondidentifier associated with the second light source. The first identifiercan be associated with the first light source and the second identifiercan be associated with the second light source.

In some embodiments, the burst pattern may also include an illuminationvalue that represents the illuminance or relative illuminance of thelight source.

In some embodiments, light sensor controller 823 can determine the lightcontribution of each fixture 805. The light contribution can representthe light contribution of each of the plurality of light fixturesrelative to a total light level detected at light sensor 820. In someembodiments, light sensor controller 823 can determine adjustment valuebased on the light contribution of each light fixture.

While wireless communication channel 830 is shown, communication betweenfixtures 805 and light sensor 820 can occur through any communicationchannel, for example, through a wired communication channel, through anoptical communication channel, etc. Moreover, while fixtures 805 includetransceiver 806, in some embodiments, fixtures 805 may include just areceiver. In such embodiments, fixtures 805 can transmit communicationto light sensor 820 via optical bursts 840. Moreover, in suchembodiments, light sensor 820 can include only a transmitter and mayreceive communication from fixtures 805 via optical bursts 840.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of process 900 for auto commissioning fixtureswith a light sensor according to some embodiments of the invention.Process 900 starts at block 905. Light sensor 820 receives a first burstpattern from a first light source at a first fixture. The first burstpattern can be received through photosensor 821 and/or via photosensorcircuitry 822. The first burst pattern can include a first fixture IDand/or a first illumination level. Light sensor controller 823 inconjunction with photosensor 821 and/or photosensor circuitry maydetermine the illuminance level or fixture contribution of the firstfixture based on the burst pattern. This can be done, for example, bycomparing the illuminance levels when the burst pattern is asserted andwhen it is not asserted.

At block 910 the first fixture identifier can be associated with thefirst fixture and the illuminance of the first fixture. These values,for example, can be saved in a table in memory 825. At block 915 a firstadjustment value can be determined. The first adjustment value can bedetermined from a function based on the fixture contribution, the firstillumination level, and/or a user input illumination value.

At block 920, light sensor 820 receives a second burst pattern from asecond light source at a second fixture. The second burst pattern can bereceived through photosensor 821 and/or via photosensor circuitry 822.The second burst pattern can include a second fixture ID and/or a secondillumination level. Light sensor controller 823 in conjunction withphotosensor 821 and/or photosensor circuitry may determine theilluminance level or fixture contribution of the second fixture based onthe burst pattern. This can be done, for example, by comparing theilluminance levels when the burst pattern is asserted and when it is notasserted.

At block 910 the second fixture identifier can be associated with thesecond fixture and the illuminance of the second fixture. These values,for example, can be saved in a table in memory 825. At block 915 a firstadjustment value can be determined. The first adjustment value can bedetermined from a function based on the fixture contribution, the firstillumination level, and/or a user input illumination value.

At block 935 the first adjustment value and the second adjustment valuemay be sent to either or both the first fixture and/or the secondfixture. These adjustment values can be sent together as a burstcommunication or separately.

An adjustment value, for example, can be determined as follows: A firsteffectiveness value of a first light fixture at a first sensor can bedetermined from the first light contribution value. If the first lightcontribution value is expressed as a ratio, then the first effectivenessvalue is equal to the first contribution value. If not, then firsteffectiveness value is set to the ratio of the first light contributiondivided by the total light received at the first sensor. The secondeffectiveness value of the first light fixture at a second sensor can bedetermined in a similar fashion. The total effectiveness can becalculated as the sum of the first light effectiveness value and thesecond light effectiveness value. In embodiments with more lightfixtures, all light efficiencies shall be summed. In some embodiments,the efficiencies can be calculated at the fixture or the sensor.

The adjustment value for the first fixture can be set as the firstadjusted light value times the first effectiveness value plus the secondadjusted light value times the second effectiveness value.Mathematically speaking, the adjustment at the first fixture can beexpressed as:

${A_{1} = {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{n}\;{E_{1}^{i}A^{i}}}},$where A₁ is the light adjustment value at the first fixture, E₁ ^(i) isthe effectiveness value of the first fixture at the i^(th) sensor andA^(i) is the light adjustment value at the i^(th) sensor, and n is thenumber of sensors. And the effectiveness value, E₁ ^(i), can beexpresses as a function of the light delivery efficiency at each sensor:

${E_{1}^{i} = \frac{F_{1}^{i}}{\sum\limits_{j = 1}^{m}\; F_{j}^{i}}},$where F₁ ^(i) is the light fixture efficiency of the first fixture atthe i^(th) sensor and m is the total number of fixtures. Thus, the lighteffectiveness value E₁ ^(i) is a normalized value that is a function ofthe light produced from all the fixtures in communication with thesensor, but not ambient light from other light sources.

The computational system 1000, shown in FIG. 10 can be used to performany of the embodiments of the invention. For example, computationalsystem 1000 can be used to execute methods 500 and/or 900. As anotherexample, computational system 1000 can be used perform any calculation,identification and/or determination described here. Moreover, fixturecontroller 808 and/or light sensor controller 823 may include some orall the components of computational system 1000.

Computational system 1000 includes hardware elements that can beelectrically coupled via a bus 1005 (or may otherwise be incommunication, as appropriate). The hardware elements can include one ormore processors 1010, including without limitation one or moregeneral-purpose processors and/or one or more special-purpose processors(such as digital signal processing chips, graphics acceleration chips,and/or the like); one or more input devices 1015, which can includewithout limitation a mouse, a keyboard and/or the like; and one or moreoutput devices 1020, which can include without limitation a displaydevice, a printer and/or the like.

The computational system 1000 may further include (and/or be incommunication with) one or more storage devices 1025, which can include,without limitation, local and/or network accessible storage and/or caninclude, without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, an opticalstorage device, a solid-state storage device, such as a random accessmemory (“RAM”) and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which can beprogrammable, flash-updateable and/or the like. The computational system1000 might also include a communications subsystem 1030, which caninclude without limitation a modem, a network card (wireless or wired),an infrared communication device, a wireless communication device and/orchipset (such as a Bluetooth device, an 802.6 device, a WiFi device, aWiMax device, cellular communication facilities, etc.), and/or the like.The communications subsystem 1030 may permit data to be exchanged with anetwork (such as the network described below, to name one example),and/or any other devices described herein. In many embodiments, thecomputational system 1000 will further include a working memory 1035,which can include a RAM or ROM device, as described above.

The computational system 1000 also can include software elements, shownas being currently located within the working memory 1035, including anoperating system 1040 and/or other code, such as one or more applicationprograms 1045, which may include computer programs of the invention,and/or may be designed to implement methods of the invention and/orconfigure systems of the invention, as described herein. For example,one or more procedures described with respect to the method(s) discussedabove might be implemented as code and/or instructions executable by acomputer (and/or a processor within a computer). A set of theseinstructions and/or codes might be stored on a computer-readable storagemedium, such as the storage device(s) 1025 described above.

In some cases, the storage medium might be incorporated within thecomputational system 1000 or in communication with the computationalsystem 1000. In other embodiments, the storage medium might be separatefrom a computational system 1000 (e.g., a removable medium, such as acompact disc, etc.), and/or provided in an installation package, suchthat the storage medium can be used to program a general purposecomputer with the instructions/code stored thereon. These instructionsmight take the form of executable code, which is executable by thecomputational system 1000 and/or might take the form of source and/orinstallable code, which, upon compilation and/or installation on thecomputational system 1000 (e.g., using any of a variety of generallyavailable compilers, installation programs, compression/decompressionutilities, etc.) then takes the form of executable code.

Any of the various elements shown in the figures or described herein maybe implemented as hardware, software, firmware, or some combination ofthese. For example, an element may be implemented as dedicated hardware.Dedicated hardware elements may be referred to as “processors,”“controllers,” or some similar terminology. When provided by aprocessor, the functions may be provided by a single dedicatedprocessor, by a single shared processor, or by a plurality of individualprocessors, some of which may be shared.

Moreover, explicit use of the term “processor” or “controller” shouldnot be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executingsoftware, and may implicitly include, without limitation, digital signalprocessor (DSP) hardware, a network processor, application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC) or other circuitry, field programmable gatearray (FPGA), read only memory (ROM) for storing software, random accessmemory (RAM), non-volatile storage, logic, or some other physicalhardware component or module.

Also, an element may be implemented as instructions executable by aprocessor or a computer to perform the functions of the element. Someexamples of instructions are software, program code, and firmware. Theinstructions are operational when executed by the processor to directthe processor to perform the functions of the element. The instructionsmay be stored on storage devices that are readable by the processor.Some examples of the storage devices are digital or solid-statememories, magnetic storage media such as a magnetic disks and magnetictapes, hard drives, or optically readable digital data storage media.

Numerous specific details are set forth herein to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the claimed subject matter. However, those skilled inthe art will understand that the claimed subject matter may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, methods, apparatusesor systems that would be known by one of ordinary skill have not beendescribed in detail so as not to obscure claimed subject matter.

Some portions are presented in terms of algorithms or symbolicrepresentations of operations on data bits or binary digital signalsstored within a computing system memory, such as a computer memory.These algorithmic descriptions or representations are examples oftechniques used by those of ordinary skill in the data processing artsto convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. Analgorithm is a self-consistent sequence of operations or similarprocessing leading to a desired result. In this context, operations orprocessing involves physical manipulation of physical quantities.Typically, although not necessarily, such quantities may take the formof electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred,combined, compared or otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient attimes, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to such signalsas bits, data, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers,numerals or the like. It should be understood, however, that all ofthese and similar terms are to be associated with appropriate physicalquantities and are merely convenient labels. Unless specifically statedotherwise, it is appreciated that throughout this specificationdiscussions utilizing terms such as “processing,” “computing,”“calculating,” “determining,” and “identifying” or the like refer toactions or processes of a computing device, such as one or morecomputers or a similar electronic computing device or devices, thatmanipulate or transform data represented as physical electronic ormagnetic quantities within memories, registers, or other informationstorage devices, transmission devices, or display devices of thecomputing platform.

The system or systems discussed herein are not limited to any particularhardware architecture or configuration. A computing device can includeany suitable arrangement of components that provides a resultconditioned on one or more inputs. Suitable computing devices includemultipurpose microprocessor-based computer systems accessing storedsoftware that programs or configures the computing system from a generalpurpose computing apparatus to a specialized computing apparatusimplementing one or more embodiments of the present subject matter. Anysuitable programming, scripting, or other type of language orcombinations of languages may be used to implement the teachingscontained herein in software to be used in programming or configuring acomputing device.

Embodiments of the methods disclosed herein may be performed in theoperation of such computing devices. The order of the blocks presentedin the examples above can be varied—for example, blocks can bere-ordered, combined, and/or broken into sub-blocks. Certain blocks orprocesses can be performed in parallel.

The use of “adapted to” or “configured to” herein is meant as open andinclusive language that does not foreclose devices adapted to orconfigured to perform additional tasks or steps. Additionally, the useof “based on” is meant to be open and inclusive, in that a process,step, calculation, or other action “based on” one or more recitedconditions or values may, in practice, be based on additional conditionsor values beyond those recited. Headings, lists, and numbering includedherein are for ease of explanation only and are not meant to belimiting.

While the present subject matter has been described in detail withrespect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated thatthose skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of theforegoing, may readily produce alterations to, variations of, andequivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, it should be understoodthat the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of examplerather than limitation, and does not preclude inclusion of suchmodifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matteras would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Although specific embodiments were described herein, the scope of theinvention is not limited to those specific embodiments. The scope of theinvention is defined by the following claims and any equivalentsthereof.

That which is claimed:
 1. An auto-commissioning lighting systemcomprising: a light fixture comprising: a light source; a receiver; anda fixture controller electrically coupled with the light source, whereinthe controller is configured to modulate the light emitted from thelight source to encode a burst pattern that is humanly imperceptible,wherein the burst pattern comprises a light fixture identifier; and alight sensor configured to be disposed remotely within an architecturalspace relative to the light fixture, the light sensor comprising: aphotosensor; a transmitter configured to communicate with the receiverof the light fixture; and a light sensor controller electronicallycoupled with the photosensor and the transmitter, the light sensorcontroller configured to: receive the burst pattern from the lightfixture via the photosensor; associate the light fixture identifier withthe light fixture using the burst pattern; determine an illuminanceadjustment value for the light fixture from the burst pattern; and sendthe illuminance adjustment value and the light fixture identifier to thereceiver of the light fixture using the transmitter of the light sensor.2. The auto-commissioning lighting system of claim 1, wherein the burstpattern comprises periods of time when a first luminance level andperiods of time when the light emitting diode emits light at a secondluminance level that is less than the first luminance level.
 3. A lightsensor providing auto-commissioning to an architectural spacecomprising: a photosensor; a communication interface configured tocommunicate with at least a first light source and second light source;and a controller electronically coupled with the light sensor and thecommunication interface, the controller configured to: receive a firstburst pattern from a first light source from the photosensor, whereinthe first burst pattern encodes a first identifier associated with thefirst light source; associate the first identifier with the first lightsource; determine a first illuminance adjustment value for the firstlight source based on the first burst pattern; and send the firstilluminance adjustment value to the first light source using thecommunication interface.
 4. The light sensor according to claim 3,wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a second burstpattern from a second light source from the photosensor, wherein thesecond burst pattern encodes a second identifier associated with thesecond light source; associate the second identifier with the secondlight source; determine a second illuminance adjustment value for thesecond light source based on the second burst pattern; and send thesecond illuminance adjustment value to the second light source using thecommunication interface.
 5. The light sensor according to claim 4,wherein the light sensor is configured to be positioned remotelyrelative to the first light source and the second light source.
 6. Thelight sensor according to claim 4, wherein the first burst pattern ishumanly imperceptible, and wherein the second burst pattern is humanlyimperceptible.
 7. The light sensor according to claim 4, wherein thefirst burst pattern encodes an illumination value associated with thefirst light source, and wherein the second burst pattern encodes anillumination value associated with the second light source.
 8. The lightsensor according to claim 4, wherein the process is further configuredto determine the light contribution of the first light source anddetermining the light contribution of the second light source at thephotosensor.
 9. The light sensor according to claim 4, wherein the firstadjustment value is determined based on a light contribution of thefirst light source, and wherein the second adjustment value isdetermined based on a light contribution of the second light source. 10.The light sensor according to claim 3, further comprising a userinterface configured to receive the first adjustment value from theuser, wherein the light sensor provides personal control to a userwithin the architectural space.
 11. An auto-commissioning light fixturecomprising: a light emitting diode emitting light in the visual portionof the light spectrum; and a controller electrically coupled with thelight emitting diode, wherein the controller is configured to: modulatethe light emitted from the light emitting diode to encode a first burstpattern comprising periods of time when the light emitting diode emitslight at a first luminance level and periods of time when the lightemitting diode emits light at a second luminance level that is less thanthe first luminance level, wherein the total amount of time the lightemitting diode illuminates light at the second luminance level over aperiod of 500 microseconds is less than 200 microseconds.
 12. Theauto-commissioning light fixture according to claim 11, furthercomprising memory communicatively coupled with the controller, whereinthe first light source identifier is saved in the memory.
 13. Theauto-commissioning light fixture according to claim 11, furthercomprising a communication interface configured to receive adjustmentvalue from a remote light sensor, wherein the controller is configuredto modify the illuminance of the light emitting diode based on theadjustment value.
 14. The auto-commissioning light fixture according toclaim 11, wherein the first burst pattern encodes the first light sourceidentifier using amplitude modulation.
 15. The auto-commissioning lightfixture according to claim 11, further comprising a semiconductorswitching device coupled with the light emitting diode, wherein thefirst burst pattern is encoded by shorting or opening the semiconductorswitching device which interrupts current to the light emitting diodeand thus changes the illuminance from the first luminance level to thesecond luminance level.
 16. The auto-commissioning light fixtureaccording to claim 15, wherein the semiconductor switching devicecomprises a field-effect transistor.
 17. An auto-commissioning lightfixture comprising: a light emitting diode emitting light in the visualportion of the light spectrum; and a controller electrically coupledwith the light emitting diode, wherein the controller is configured to:modulate the light emitted from the light emitting diode to encode afirst burst pattern comprising periods of time when the light emittingdiode emits light at a first luminance level and periods of time whenthe light emitting diode emits light at a second luminance level that isless than the first luminance level, wherein the percentage of time whenthe light emitting diode emits light at the second luminance levelversus the first luminance level is less than 20%.
 18. Theauto-commissioning light fixture according to claim 17, furthercomprising a semiconductor switching device coupled with the lightemitting diode, wherein the first burst pattern is encoded by shortingor opening the semiconductor switching device which interrupts currentto the light emitting diode and thus changes the illuminance from thefirst luminance level to the second luminance level.
 19. A method forauto commissioning comprising: receiving a first burst pattern from afirst light source at a light sensor, wherein the first burst patterncomprises periods of time when the first light source is illuminatinglight at a first luminance level and periods of time when the firstlight source is illuminating light at a second luminance level that isless than the first luminance level, wherein the periods of time whenthe first light source illuminates light at the second luminance levellight is humanly imperceptible, and wherein the first burst patterncomprises a first light source identifier; associating the first lightsource identifier with the first light source based on the first burstpattern; determining a first illuminance adjustment value for the firstlight source based on the first burst pattern; and sending the firstilluminance adjustment value to a first light source.
 20. The methodaccording to claim 19, further comprising determining the distancebetween the light sensor and the first light source, wherein the firstadjustment value is modified based on the distance between the lightsensor and the first light source.
 21. The method according to claim 19,further comprising: receiving a second burst pattern from a second lightsource at a light sensor, wherein the second burst pattern comprisesperiods of time when the second light source is illuminating light at afirst luminance level and periods of time when the second light sourceis illuminating light at a second luminance level that is less than thefirst luminance level, wherein the periods of time when the second lightsource illuminates light at the second luminance level light is humanlyimperceptible, and wherein the second burst pattern comprises a secondlight source identifier; associating the second light source identifierwith the second light source based on the second burst pattern;determining a second illuminance adjustment value for the second lightsource based on the second burst pattern; and sending the secondadjustment value to a second light source.
 22. The method according toclaim 19, wherein the second luminance level comprises zero lumens persquare meter.
 23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the lightsensor and the first light source are configured to be positionedremotely relative to one another.
 24. The method according to claim 19,wherein the total amount of time the first light source illuminateslight at a second luminance level over a period of 500 microseconds isless than 200 microseconds.
 25. The method according to claim 19,wherein the first burst pattern encodes the first light sourceidentifier using amplitude modulation.
 26. The method according to claim19, wherein the wherein the first burst pattern encodes the first lightsource identifier using frequency modulation.